Mike Cardillo: Basketball fans would love 'best of best' high school event

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It's hard to imagine that, 51 years ago, high school sports were more progressive than they are today. That's not entirely true, although in at least one area, they were.

The New England High School Basketball championships were played for the last time in 1962. A sanctioned high school tournament between the six New England states, at Boston Garden? Sounds almost too good to believe.

Apparently the games were so rowdy, the tournament was eventually disbanded due to fans throwing debris from the balconies onto the court. It's a shame since the images of an old, smoky gym with teams from six states competing for a championship is absolutely delightful.

Sadly, it's doubtful we'll ever see a revival of the New England Championship anytime soon.

Here's another ideal tournament that seems a no-brainer: Why not stage a "best of the best" championship the weekend following the CIAC boys basketball championships? Have the winners of LL, L, M and S square off for an undisputed Connecticut crown.

We'll hold it at the Webster Bank Arena, which is always thirsting to host more high school sporting events, and hand the winners the "Montelli Trophy."

Seems like a win-win for all parties involved. The players and schools get another chance to showcase themselves. The CIAC and other organizers can make a nice little chunk of change. Fans get another chance to watch three presumably great high school games.

If this is thinking too big, why not hold the same tournament and invite the champions of the FCIAC, NVL, SCC and SWC?

This is all probably a pipe dream since the CIAC wouldn't want anything to upstage its championship. Either that, or the state's high school athletic governing body would come up with some flimsy excuse that this would-be "best of the best" tournament would amount to an off-season practice, which is strictly verboten in its bylaws even if most high-level high school players are crisscrossing the country for AAU tournaments all summer.

High school, college, a rec game, tip up a ball in the Nutmeg State and within a few minutes, you'll find someone moaning about the officiating.

This happens everywhere and in every sport, but it seems pervasive in Connecticut.

Tuesday up at Wilby High in Waterbury for the Class LL semifinal between Fairfield Prep and East Catholic (a game decided by three points in the final 30 seconds), the fans didn't stop riding the refs all 32 minutes.

Both sides felt -- consistently -- harm done by the referees' whistles. It was non-stop bickering in the bleachers all game.

To that, all I can say is lighten up. If you really think the refs are biased at the high school level, please email me your Kennedy assassination conspiracy theories.

A NEW GOAL?: Maybe this column is all about pipe dreams and far-flung ideas. In any event, on July 16, Rentschler Field will host an international soccer doubleheader with Cuba playing Belize followed by the United States hosting Costa Rica in the CONCACAF Gold Cup group stage.

Coming from someone who's seen soccer all over America, make no mistake: the Rent is an excellent venue for soccer. From the great sight lines to the intimacy to the ability to tailgate outside, it's a great place to watch a match even if it was designed primarily for football.

Considering the building is dormant all but a few dates every year -- even less busy now that the CIAC football championships have shifted to Central Connecticut -- trying to find a soccer tenant for the summer months would be a great idea. Major League Soccer isn't going to expand to Hartford when it has teams in New York and New England, but a push for a team in the second-tier NASL at some point in the near future would be a smart play for those running the building or a Nutmeg State resident with deep pockets and the itch to own a pro sports team.